UCLA Football: Projecting the 2017 depth chart-Defensive Line
Go Joe Bruin continues our “Projecting the 2017 depth chart” series by looking at one of the bigger question marks on the UCLA Football team, the defensive line.
Every smart coach knows you build the foundation of your team upfront in the trenches. In our last edition of “Projecting the 2017 Depth Chart” series we looked at the offensive line for the UCLA Football program. We now jump across the line of scrimmage to look at the defensive line.
RELATED: UCLA Football Projected Depth Charts- Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers/Tight Ends, Offensive line
In 2016 the UCLA Football defensive line was dotted with a stud pass rusher, an agile interior defensive lineman and a crafty, veteran defensive tackle. All three of those players have found themselves on NFL rosters at this point with two of them being drafted earlier. All three will have to be replaced.
We will start our GJB projected depth chart at the DE position. Keep in mind we are going to list one DE position first and then to finish the depth chart we will return to the DE position as we work across the line.
Right Defensive End Depth Chart
Right defensive ends or RDE are your pass rushers. Yes these guys need to be able to play against the run to survive but they make their money and their fame on getting to the passer.
- Jaelan Phillips, #15, 6’5″, 255lbs., Fr.
- Keisean Lucier-South, #11, 6’4″, 240lbs., R-So.
- Marcus Moore, #95, 6’2″, 265., R-Fr.
It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that Phillips is atop the depth chart at one of the DE spots. He already has NFL size, speed and strength as a freshman and will only continue to get stronger and faster. He’s even made the fabled Freak list that college football guru Bruce Feldman puts together every year. He’s also one of the more complete DEs on the roster meaning he won’t be a liability on run downs or be a pure pass rush specialist.
KLS knows one speed, blazing. His first step is crazy good and he can run the arc with some of the best of them but what he hasn’t learned to do yet is have a plan for when his speed is negated. Offensive tackles know he only has the speed rush and no counter moves so they overset, or kick out wider in pass protection. Do that against a pass rusher with a plan and they’ll have sack lunches all day but against someone who doesn’t have a full tool belt, you can easily push them past the pocket.
What is even more concerning about KLS is that he doesn’t really have a stand out season so far so that means in the limited film study opponents have about him they’ve already figured out how to handle him.
Marcus Moore is a name most UCLA Football fans have forgotten. He’s about to make them remember in 2017. He’s now fully recovered from the injury that robbed him of his freshman season and a chunk of his senior season in high school and showed his burst off in Spring ball. While he’s still young and inexperienced, the coaching staff has to be excited about being able to rotate in fresh pass rushers without much drop off.